Noyes Museum and A Playground

Saturday there was a Fall Festival at the local museum.  The kids loved it. There was so much for them to do. If we hadn't been hungry, and had other plans, we probably would've stayed longer. The first three pictures here were actually taken by the museum and posted on their page.

The kids each tried the weaving station.

Rudy found a friend from school and they walked around together for a while. Rudy and Niko both really enjoyed the woodworking station.

Outside when we first arrived, the kids drew with chalk and touched animals from the aquarium touch tank (or rather, Rudy and Jada touched the animals- Niko wanted no part of it.)

Niko's finished product.

Jada participated in a play- she was the first little pig.

There was a painting station. Niko was very precise.

Jada started out with a plan...

...but eventually decided that it was more fun to just add more colors on top of other colors.

Jada got her face painted.

The kids all helped paint dots for a "Dot Wall Art" project.

And Rudy got his face painted, too.

After the museum we took a drive for some lunch and shopping. With a playground break in between. The updated merry-go-round was definitely the kids' favorite part of it. The spun on it, and spun each other on it over and over. It's a miracle they were able to walk to the car when we left!

A Long Weekend

Saturday morning we went to The Color Run in Atlantic City. It was grey and rainy but we decided to go for it anyway. The kids were excited and had fun getting their tattoos and headbands ready.

We arrived early (possibly a mistake on a rainy day) and waited in the rain.

Just as the race was about to begin, the rain got harder and we realized the worst thing about the site was it was right next to the bay- so the wind was added to the rain. We ran to the first color - purple- together. Then it was decided that anyone who wanted to could head back to the car. Rudy was cold and wet and done, so he and Paul went to the car and Niko, Jada and I headed to the next color- blue. Within a minute or two after Rudy and Paul left, Niko said he was done, but we pressed on to blue with the decision that after that we would call it a day. (we also took a little short cut to blue :) )

Here's a picture Paul posted as he and Rudy waited in the car. Once we all made it back to the car we headed home for hot chocolate, dry clothes and a lazy day at home.

I did a lot of cooking during the day and decided we should make a dessert. I gave Rudy and Niko the choice of making rainbow cupcakes (we later dubbed them Color Run cupcakes) or cupcakes in a cone. They decided we should combine them and do both. 

Making the cupcakes was messy but the boys had fun.


Monday we were all off, the weather was once again grey and rainy, but we headed to the Cape May Zoo.

A beautiful red-tailed hawk

A big cow

Testing to see how close they could get to the peacock

A crazy bunch

All the different deer hanging out

Our crazy crew

The Rainforest Cafe

It is that time of year- Rudy's anniversary. It's a weekend earlier than we usually celebrate it, but next weekend is looking really busy, and today started as a dreary, rainy day, so we headed into AC by train.

Jada and Niko enjoyed the train ride.

Once we were seated (by the gorillas upon request by Rudy), the animals immediate started making noise. Oh, and so did the ones in the restaurant. ;)

Lunch was delicious and then we had the ultimate dessert- VOLCANO! As you can see by the kids' expressions, they were all impressed.

The sun was coming out as we left the restaurant, so we walked down the boardwalk, viewed a Korean War Memorial and found an art park just a block off the boardwalk.

There were five different art areas with art exhibits that were able to be climbed on, touched, played with. including neon words along the grass and a shipwreck.

Some military planes flew by.

The boys climbed up to the ship's mast.

Art depicting how people and nature are connected.

It ended up being a beautiful day to walk around Atlantic City and start celebrating our 7 years with our boy!